The National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) welcomes the NSW Government’s announcement of the purchase of 166,924 hectares to create two new national parks in Western NSW.
‘The two properties, Avenel/Mt Westwood station near Broken Hill and Koonaburra station near Ivanhoe, are wonderful additions in bioregions that are currently very underrepresented in the protected area network’ stated NPA Executive Officer Garry Dunnett.
‘It is encouraging to see that NSW is returning to the long term rate for the establishment of new parks after several years of inactivity.
‘Under NSW Environment Minister, Matt Kean we have seen a steady increase in the amount of land protected in NSW. That said, only 9% of NSW is currently protected, a long way short of the Commonwealth’s 30 by 30 target, which aims to protect at least 30% of Australia’s land and oceans by 2030.
‘NPA expects that the National Parks and Wildlife Service will be resourced to professionally acquit its land, conservation and cultural heritage management obligations for these new parks.
‘NPA also expects that Plans of Management will be produced as quickly as possible for the new parks, identifying actions such as pest and weed control that will need to be taken to enable the parks to reach their full potential as biodiversity reservoirs for the future.’ concluded Mr Dunnett
ENDS
Media Contact: NPA EO, Gary Dunnett 02 9299 0000